Masdar’s residential project wins EmiratesGBC awards

DUBAI, June 11, 2018

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Masdar's key development, Etihad Eco-Residence, has won the Green Residential Building award at the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) Middle East and North Africa Green Building Awards 2018.

Designed by project partners Woods Bagot and Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG) and built by Multiplex Constructions, the Etihad Eco-Residence is Platinum-certified according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) building rating system – one of the world’s most widely used green building codes.

It is also rated Three Pearls under the Estidama Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS), introduced for new buildings by the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, Abu Dhabi.

Inaugurated in March this year, Etihad Eco-Residence features 500 one- and two-bedroom apartments in a total of 11 buildings, accommodating more than 900 Etihad Airways cabin crew.

A team from Multiplex Constructions received the award for the Masdar-developed project at the recent awards ceremony held in Dubai.

"The addition of the Etihad Eco-Residence to Masdar City further enhances the city’s reputation as a leader in sustainable urban development while also raising awareness of the distinct commercial benefits of environmentally responsible building construction," remarked Yousef Baselaib, the executive director of Sustainable Real Estate at Masdar.

The complex features an airtight building ‘envelope’ comprising high-performance insulation, as well as solar thermal water heaters, a low window-to-wall ratio, and high albedo or solar-reflective index (SRI) coatings, which reflect light away from the surface of a building with minimal absorption.

All of these features result in an estimated 63 per cent reduction in total energy consumption compared with the Estidama PBRS baseline, said Baselaib.

Meanwhile, the potable water consumption of the Eco-Residence is expected to be 40 per cent lower than the Estidama PBRS baseline, thanks to highly efficient water fixtures and the low water demand of the project’s landscaping, he stated.

Richard Fenne, the principal and studio chair of Woods Bagot, said: "The focus of the Etihad Eco-Residence’s design has been to create a highly sustainable building which exemplifies the overall development of Masdar City."

"The development sets a new benchmark for efficient and commercially viable accommodation, responding directly to the pressing market needs in the region. A rigorous design approach, prioritising the use of passive design strategies, limited the number of unit types and facilitated the use of pioneering modular construction which has improved build quality and construction time frames," he added.

The Etihad Eco-Residence incorporates numerous design features to enhance its sustainability. The shape and arrangement of the buildings themselves, together with its landscaping, protects against wind and dust while also promoting natural ventilation, contributing to the project’s energy savings.

On the win, Marcus Truscott, the managing director of Multiplex, said: "We are proud to be part of the team that has delivered yet another landmark project in Masdar City. The Etihad Eco-Residence was designed and built with the highest quality and sustainability standards in mind and has resulted in one of the most resource efficient buildings within the region."

Each of the buildings have been constructed using low-environment-impact materials, which reduce heat gain and the heat island effect within the complex itself, while maximising available natural daylight, he explained.

Transport-related carbon emissions during the construction of the project were reduced by using a modular design, prefabricated systems and sourcing from local suppliers, with at least 20 per cent of the materials either sourced or manufactured within 800 km, noted Truscott.

Solar hot water systems provide three-quarters (76 per cent) of the community’s water demand, while each Etihad Eco-Residence apartment is equipped with highly energy efficient white goods.

There are also operational waste recycling facilities on site, as well as bicycle parking to encourage more active lifestyles, he added.

Nick Turbott, the director of BSBG, said: "The Etihad Eco-Residence is a pioneering venture focused on achieving world-leading sustainability objectives, and is an example of a holistic approach to sustainable development."

"We used our knowledge and experience in architectural sustainability, as well as the expertise of our partners in this field, to accomplish a community for the future - and one that represents the UAE’s green objectives, as well as Masdar’s vision for the advancement of renewable energy, clean technologies and sustainable development," he added.-TradeArabia News Service